Sunday 25th January

3rd Sunday of the Year

The Ways of the Lord.

“Follow me and I will make you into fishers of people.” Those words of Jesus, which are given to us for this week, are usually thought of as being addressed to people with a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. They are about vocation certainly but are addressed to each of us. The four great vocations in the Church are single life, married life, religious life and priesthood. All of us who are baptised are living one of those and each of us is vital to the health of the whole body, the Church. We live our vocations in different ways but to the same end, the salvation of the world. Our task is to discover how to live our own vocation to the full. This means discovering how to make our love radiate out to those around us. We begin in our homes with those who are closest to us. Then we can reach out to the world around us. When we are with Christ and following him love will be the characteristic of our lives.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

JESUS CALLS US TO FREEDOM FROM THE PAST AND A LIFE OF SERVICE

Imagine what goes through the mind of Jesus when he hears that John the Baptist has been arrested. John had been regarded as a great leader and had his own disciples. Jesus begins proclaiming the Good News and begins calling his disciples. Disciples are followers and people who stand for something. The word of God for today promotes urgency.

Jonah begins calling the people of Niniveh to account, and they respond. We then hear that God relents and spares them. Paul warns the Corinthians that time is getting short and urges them to refocus because ’the world as we know it is passing away’. Jesus reads the signs of his time and begins to proclaim the Good News. We look to the signs of our times. What is the appropriate response? What we can take from the gospel is the News that the time is now.

The Lord speaks to our hearts today. He invites us to repent and to believe the Good News. That is more than just an assent, an intellectual exercise. It means a change of life. It means a freeing up of ourselves from our past right up to this moment. It involves saying ‘Yes’ to the invitation to follow and like those invited in the Gospel it means going after him. That is a decision that we can make in a moment. The price we are called to pay must belong to every day.

We can all drift along in life, well meaning, congratulating ourselves that we are not doing anything to harm anyone else. Is that enough for people who believe in Jesus Christ? It seems clear from the readings this weekend that the community of faith has always needed calls to refocus from time to time. In our own day we are invited. ‘The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.

 

BAPTISM Our parish family welcomes
Seanice Leah Callaghan
4 Carleton Court.
Alexis Alanna Fisher
16 Harty Court
Erin Christine Helferty
36 Corrib Court

 

SUNDAY COLLECTION
11th January amounted to £2335.90 and €155.31 Thank you

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS
Duet 18:15-20 Ps 34 Cor 7:32-35
Mk 1:21-28

 

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS FOR FEBRUARY
Vigil Mass Brendan Ferris,
Myra Merrigan, Mark McChrystal, Nell Smith,

9.30am Brigid McNutt
Peter McCourt, Bridie Gallagher, Kathleen Cullen

11.15am Gordan Hyndman,
Jackie Knox, Eileen Corcoran.

12.30pm Louise McCloskey,
Gerry McMonagle, Ann Lynch, Majella Heaney, Fidelma Coyle

 

READERS FOR FEBRUARY
6.00pm Sr. Ann

9.30am Ken Austin

11.15am Jackie Conway
Anna Begley

12.30pm Frank Quinn
Patricia Murphy

 

BLESSED ALEXANDRINA
Mass in her honour will take place in Termonbacca today Sunday 25th January at 7.30pm. All welcome

VOCATIONS INFORMATION DAY
Could you be called to Serve God and His people as a priest in the Diocese of Derry? A Day of Reflection on the theme of Vocation. Saturday 9th February 11.00am-4.00pm in Thornhill Centre. For further information contact one of the local priests, R.E. teachers or Fr. Paul Farren 71264087 or Fr. Colm O’Doherty 81661475

SINCERE THANKS from Sister Anne and Gerry Deeney to all who contributed in any way to the Christmas Raffle in aid of the poor in Africa, India, Chile, Cambodia and Fiji by buying raffle lines, giving donations etc. The total amount raise to date is £18,591.16 plus €860 plus $100 Australian dollars for the six charities. This money will be divided and sent to the different sisters for their work. Mass is being offered for you all in thanksgiving. May God reward and bless each of you in a special way.

PRAYER GROUP

Change of Venue From today Sunday 25th January St. Brigid’s Prayer Group will meet at 8.00pm in the Conference Room upstairs in St. Brigid’s Church. Entrance is via gate at Parochial House only. New and former members very welcome

PRECIOUS LIFE will hold their monthly Pro Life Mass on Monday 26th January in Termonbacca at 7.30pm. All welcome.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER

An Engaged Encounter Weekend is a recognised form of marriage preparation. The weekend is non-residential and will take place in Thornhill on 21-22nd February. Early booking is advisable. For information and booking contact 028 79300340 or 02827638512 after 4.30pm

 

The Derry Branch of the Samaritans are holding Information Evenings in January to recruit new volunteers.

The dates are as follows:

Tuesday 27th January - 16 Clarendon St, Derry

Wednesday 28th January - The Fir Trees Hotel, Strabane

Thursday 29th January - 16 Clarendon St, Derry

These evenings will begin at 7.30pm and last approx one hour, refreshments will also be served.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION WORKSHOP 30-31st Jan 2009 in Thornhill Centre Friday 7pm-10.00pm and Saturday and 10.am-4.00pm. Booking Forms available from Pastoral Centre Bishop St. Tel 71362475 or Parochial House.

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to assist with the Sure Start Services in the Creevagh/Springtown/Rosemount areas. Volunteers will receive free training and expense will be covered. If you are 16 + contact Rose Doherty 71267524

COLMCILLE PILGRIMAGES

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 22nd-29th July 2009 Cost €775 Deposit €100 secures seat For details tel. Margaret 07732468511

THORNHILL COLLEGE Open Days Tuesday 27th January 4.00-6.30pm. Talk
by principal 4.15 and 5.15pm. A further opportunity is Wednesday 28th Jan 10am-12noon. All parents and prospective Year 8 students are welcome. Prospective Year 13 students are also welcome to come along and discuss A level or Applied GCE Courses.

 

CAR BOOT SALE at Creggan Country Park on the last Sunday of each month during 2009. Spaces outside available costing £5 . The next sale is today Sunday 25th Call 71363133 to reserve a space.